Obituaries

William Jackson (Jay) Powell

 

 

 

William Jackson (Jay) Powell was born in Brookeland Texas and died of natural causes, in Spring, Texas. He was preceded by his wife, Ruby Lucille Stanley Powell, his parents, John Tom and Caroline Mathilda (Tildy), and his brothers, Jim & Pete, his younger sister Mittie, and his older sisters Opal, and Lavonne. He is survived by youngest sister, Virginia (husband Wendall) who resides in California. He is survived by his three children: William Earl Powell (wife Jeanette), Brenda Sue McWilliams (husband Mike), and Deputy Sheriff Patrick Alan Powell (wife Karen) and five grandchildren: William Dylan Powell (wife Stephanie), Dr. Melinda Sue Camus (husband Al), Patrick Michael McWilliams (wife Wendy), Connor Patrick Powell (wife Destiny), and Alaina Caroline Williams (husband Jordan) and eight great-grandchildren: Caroline Elisabeth Camus, Caleb Dickinson Camus, Eleanor Powell McWilliams, Mary Frances McWilliams, Katherine Lucille McWilliams, Elizabeth Michael McWilliams,  Jackson Lynn Powell and Charlotte Grace Powell.

 

Jay was an East Texas country boy who grew up in the piney woods. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and doing anything outdoors. When his two older brothers joined the service Jay talked his father into letting him enlist at age 17. He served in the U.S. Navy as a gunner in the South Pacific during some of the bloodiest campaigns of WWII. Following the war, Jay returned to East Texas and declared that he never wanted to travel again.

 

In 1946 Jay married his redhead sweetheart Lucille, and they settled down to start a family in San Augustine. He soon became foreman of the Fairway Farms Hunt Club, where he raised and showed prize Hereford cattle, raised and released game birds including bob white quail and ringneck pheasants, trained English pointers, and served as hunting guide for visiting guests. He was a crack shot with his Remington auto 16 gauge, and often bagged 3 birds on a covey rise. There he built an air strip, 18-hole golf course, and swimming pool! Jay was badly injured in a hunting accident, and subsequently moved his family to Port Arthur where he accepted a job working for the man who had shot him.

 

Jay became a plumber for Jeffco in 1956, and ultimately became a master plumber.  He specialized in new construction and became the go-to guy for the tough jobs. He loved to ride around town and point out the houses, neighborhoods, and buildings he’d personally plumbed.  He conservatively plumbed hundreds, if not, thousands of new structures in his 60+ years in the trade. He became best friends with his boss and co-worker Harold Carrier. After Harold’s death, his son David Carrier took over Jeffco. After Hurricane Ike Flooded Jay and Lucille’s home with 7 feet of water, David came to the rescue by rebuilding their home better than ever.


Jay, PawPaw to us, was a loving man.  He loved his family, and he loved his co-workers and friends. He was married for 72 years to his beautiful bride Lucille.  He always asked “when are you coming to see me again?” Today she is putting her head upon his shoulder.

 

The Funeral will be at Wyman Roberts Funeral Home in San Augustine, on Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 1 p.m. with visitation beginning at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the same day at Wyman Roberts.  He will be buried at Antioch Cemetery in San Augustine the same afternoon next to his wife Ruby Lucille.

 

Roughriders Sports

Family Features

Loading Family Features Content Widget
Loading Family Features Article